EPYC 7303 vs Xeon Gold 6238

EPYC 7303 vs Xeon Gold 6238 Performance Spectrum

EPYC 7303

16 / 32

28,572

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

Xeon Gold 6238

22 / 44

29,118

+1.9%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

EPYC 7303 vs Xeon Gold 6238 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

EPYC 7303 vs Xeon Gold 6238: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

EPYC 7303

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+111.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 130W instead of 140W, a 10W reduction.
✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 48) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (28,572 vs 29,118).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon Gold 6238

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.9% higher PassMark.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 7303 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6238 better than EPYC 7303?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, EPYC 7303 is ahead with a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6238 pulls ahead with 1.9% better PassMark. EPYC 7303 also has the bigger cache pool with 111.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6238 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.9% better PassMark, backed by 22 cores and 44 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon Gold 6238 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon Gold 6238 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1.9% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon Gold 6238 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 22 cores / 44 threads instead of 16/32 and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

EPYC 7303 vs Xeon Gold 6238 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

EPYC 7303

The EPYC 7303 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 28,572 points. Launch price was $604.

Xeon Gold 6238

The Xeon Gold 6238 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 30.25 MB. L2 cache: 22 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 29,118 points. Launch price was $2,612.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 7303 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6238 offers 22 cores / 44 threads — the Xeon Gold 6238 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7303 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6238 — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6238 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The EPYC 7303 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6238 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7303 scores 28,572 against the Xeon Gold 6238's 29,118 — a 1.9% lead for the Xeon Gold 6238. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7303 vs 30.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 6238.

Feature	EPYC 7303	Xeon Gold 6238
Cores / Threads	16 / 32	22 / 44+38%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	3.7 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz+14%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)+112%	30.25 MB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	22 MB+4300%
Process	7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	28,572	29,118+2%
Cinebench R23 Multi	18,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,960	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,000	—

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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7303 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6238 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7303 versus 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6238 — the EPYC 7303 supports 9.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6238 supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 204 GB — 402% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7303) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6238). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7303) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6238) — the EPYC 7303 offers 80 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 platform (EPYC 7303) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6238).

Feature	EPYC 7303	Xeon Gold 6238
Socket	SP3	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200+9%	2933
Max RAM Capacity	204 GB	1024 GB+402%
RAM Channels	8+33%	6
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	128+167%	48

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the EPYC 7303 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 6238 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SVM (EPYC 7303) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6238). Primary use case: EPYC 7303 targets High-frequency Server Workloads. Direct competitor: EPYC 7303 rivals Xeon Gold 6334; Xeon Gold 6238 rivals EPYC 7402.